A flame rises from a chimney at Taq Taq oil field in Arbil, in Iraq’s Kurdistan region, August 16, 2014. Picture taken August 16, 2014. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari
Early on May 5, unidentified militants attacked the Bai Hasan oil fields in the northern Iraqi province of Kirkuk, where large oil reserves are located.
The militants blew up two wells in the oil fields with explosive devices while attacking a nearby security post to distract the guards.
“The terrorist attack at dawn today, resulted in the explosion of the Wells 183 and 177,” the Iraqi Ministry of Oil said in a statement, adding that a fire at Well 177 had been put out and emergency teams were working to halt a second at Well 183.
Citing Iraqi security officials, the Reuters news agency said that a policeman was killed and three others were wounded in the attack.
This was not the first such attack on Bai Hasan. On April 17, militants blew up two wells at the oil fileds. Back then, ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack, which didn’t result in any real material losses.
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ISIS is apparently attempting to disturb oil production in Iraq. The group’s operations in Kirkuk saw a sharp increase in the last few months. Iraqi security forces are yet to step up security in the province.
